AFGHANISTAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1919, Page 5

AFGHANISTAN.

THE TROOPS PANIC-STRICKEN. EFFECT OF AERIAL RAIDS. BOLSHEVIK AGITATION. | Received April 2G, 8 p-m. I Simla, May 24. When our aeroplanes bombed Jetlalabad tlie inhabitants were panic-stricken and the town was almost deserted, the Afghan troops leading in the flight. Looters helped themselves liberally to the unprotected army stores. Generally the tribal situation is more settled. After the Amir's chief armistice envoy had been sent back his two companions produced the Amir's firman, in which he stated that he had been informed that discussions between Arghan envoy and Foreign Secretary and the Government of Tndia regarding the cessation of war had opened the door for peace. The Amir, therefore, authorised the three envoys to proceed to the British camp to discuss terms of peace. "If you find the ground favorabhv for peace, inform me."

The two remaining envoys have now been sent back with the information that there is nothing to add to the message already handed to the chief envoy.

I A Bolshevik wireless from Tashkent, announces the receipt of two letters from Kabul, dated April 7, and addressed to the President of the Russian Republic. In one the Amir declared that Russia, by raising the standard of Bolshebism, had earned the gratitude of the whole world. In the other Mahmud Tarzi, the Amir's Commissary of Foreign Affairs, expressed the hope that permanent friendly raising the standard of Bolshevism, had Afghanistan would now be established. Another Bolshevik wireless from Tashkent, addresesd to the Eastern Propaganda Bureau, asks Barkatulla, a renegade Indian agitator, to finish his nromised namphlet on Bolshevism in the Koran and dispatch 100,000 copies in the Hindustani, Persian, and Arabic languages-

A further message from TCushk, addressed to all Eastern stations!, announces that Afghanistan was rallying to the mountain tribes with a view to securing an exit to the sea by gaining possession of Karachi port.

BAISING INSURRECTION. AFGHANIS' PLANS 'MISCARRY. London, May 24. The- Viceroy reported on the 22nd that the dissemination of the Afghan forces along the whole frontier was intended to raise the tribes against Britain- ( All the tribes are reported to be still quiet. Our aeroplanes successfully bombed houses at Jellalabad from which shots were fired. We also bombed the Afghan headquarters and barracks and dispersed a parade of 2MO troops as well as a marching column. The five guns captured on May 17 were all of Krupp manufacture.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.